Picture Show: Real Life Super Heroes

In the real world, no man can outrace a bullet. No woman commands storms with her mind. No one spins webs from his wrists or flies across continents or shoots lasers from his eyes. But that doesn't mean there aren't super heroes among us. Inside every human is the capacity to do something kind, brave, and strong for our fellow humans; some among us simply choose to do so in secret. In the spirit of the heroes who fill the pages of comic books, an unlikely assortment of men and women have been donning masks and costumes, and venturing into their respective neighborhoods to feed the hungry, comfort the sick, and protect the innocent.

The Real Life Super Hero Project is the photographer Peter Tangen's attempt to document the work of these loosely affiliated individuals; it's also a gallery exhibit designed to raise money for the causes with which these men and women are affiliated. Highlighting the people who do good under the secrecy of masks with no hope for personal gain, the Real Life Super Hero Project is a call for all of us to engage with and help those around us.

"Celebrate and honor them," says Tangen. "And find the hero in all of us."

Citizen Prime focuses on educating children, working with at-risk youth in his "Kid Heroes" school programs in Arizona and Utah.

With a history of substance abuse now far behind him, The Crimson Fist performs outreach for people living on the streets of Atlanta.

In the spirit of Captain America, Washington, D.C.'s Guardian aims to make a difference in our nation's capital. He's a member of the Skiffytown League of Heroes and has worked with Make-A-Wish, The Joyful Heart Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Army Fisher Houses, the Autism Research Institute, and more.

The silent but stylish Geist works in southeastern Minnesota, helping victims of tragedy, the homeless, and various non-political local charities.

Tampa Bay, Florida's Knight Vigil performs patrols and outreach, and delivers food and clothes to the area's many migrant workers.

Delivering essentials like food and toiletries to Manhattan's homeless population, Life hopes to inspire in others what he dubs "creative altruism."

In a field that appears dominated by men, Nyx does her outreach in Northern New Jersey and New York City.

Clearwater, Florida's simply named Super Hero sees apathy as society's greatest enemy. He's the founder of the nonprofit Team Justice, Inc., which delivers food, water, and Christmas toys to kids.

Near Vancouver, British Columbia's notorious Hastings and Main neighborhood, Thanatos (named after the Greek personification of death )attempts to heal the "walking dead," the addicts, dealers, and prostitutes that so many other people do their best to ignore and avoid.

In the real world, no man can outrace a bullet. No woman commands storms with her mind. No one spins webs from his wrists or flies across continents or shoots lasers from his eyes. But that doesn't mean there aren't super heroes among us. Inside every human is the capacity to do something kind, brave, and strong for our fellow humans; some among us simply choose to do so in secret. In the spirit of the heroes who fill the pages of comic books, an unlikely assortment of men and women have been donning masks and costumes, and venturing into their respective neighborhoods to feed the hungry, comfort the sick, and protect the innocent.

The Real Life Super Hero Project is the photographer Peter Tangen's attempt to document the work of these loosely affiliated individuals; it's also a gallery exhibit designed to raise money for the causes with which these men and women are affiliated. Highlighting the people who do good under the secrecy of masks with no hope for personal gain, the Real Life Super Hero Project is a call for all of us to engage with and help those around us.

"Celebrate and honor them," says Tangen. "And find the hero in all of us."

Citizen Prime focuses on educating children, working with at-risk youth in his "Kid Heroes" school programs in Arizona and Utah.

With a history of substance abuse now far behind him, The Crimson Fist performs outreach for people living on the streets of Atlanta.

In the spirit of Captain America, Washington, D.C.'s Guardian aims to make a difference in our nation's capital. He's a member of the Skiffytown League of Heroes and has worked with Make-A-Wish, The Joyful Heart Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Army Fisher Houses, the Autism Research Institute, and more.

The silent but stylish Geist works in southeastern Minnesota, helping victims of tragedy, the homeless, and various non-political local charities.

Tampa Bay, Florida's Knight Vigil performs patrols and outreach, and delivers food and clothes to the area's many migrant workers.

Delivering essentials like food and toiletries to Manhattan's homeless population, Life hopes to inspire in others what he dubs "creative altruism."

In a field that appears dominated by men, Nyx does her outreach in Northern New Jersey and New York City.

Clearwater, Florida's simply named Super Hero sees apathy as society's greatest enemy. He's the founder of the nonprofit Team Justice, Inc., which delivers food, water, and Christmas toys to kids.

Near Vancouver, British Columbia's notorious Hastings and Main neighborhood, Thanatos (named after the Greek personification of death )attempts to heal the "walking dead," the addicts, dealers, and prostitutes that so many other people do their best to ignore and avoid.